Cor-soap: Is the world’s most expensive soap worth it?

byThe Beauty BrainsonSeptember 30, 2007

Angela asks:I recently read about Plank’s Cor Soap and I’m intrigued. Does it live up to its claims? Is this bar of soap so fantastic that it’s worth $125? Thanks for any answers you may be able to provide. Here are the claims:

“Cor utilizes the unique properties of silver…and its healing properties speed cell growth and repair. Cor also contains four different types of Collagen; Chitosan, to even out skin tone and balance oil levels; and Sericin, a silk extract, to lock moisture in and keep UV rays out. This one product cleanses, removes makeup, evens out the skin tone, fades sun spots, maintains the skin’s natural moisture factor, replenishes lost collagen, and has UV protection.”

Hang on Angela, I’ll answer your question as soon as I finish this phone call. “Hello? Yes, I’d like to buy 10,000 shares of Plank, the company that makes Cor soap. Why? Because they found a way to convince people to spend $125 on a bar of soap and I want a piece of that action!” Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s look at ingredients you asked about.

Collagen can’t cut it

Collagen is an important structural protein that gives the deeper layers of your skin structure. Since it’s a very large molecule, collagen can’t penetrate the skin from the outside. So a soap or skin lotion with collagen does nothing to replenish the skin’s native collagen.

Chitosan is questionable

Chitosan is an effective film former and can be part of an effective moisturizing lotion formula. But at best it’s questionable that it can do anything to to “balance out oil.” At worst, chitosan can’t be delivered from a rinse of product so it won’t do anything from this soap.

Silk is not sun safe

Sericin is not an effective UV absorber. Protein molecules just don’t work that way. Secondly, since this is a rinse off product, there are very few sunscreen ingredients that can be delivered from a rinse off product. (See our previous post on Freeze 24/7 for an example of a rinse off sunscreen that really works.

The Beauty Brains Bottom Line

The ingredients used in Cor do not justify its high price tag. Furthermore, some of their supposed benefits (like fading sun spots and providing UV protection) border on being drug claims yet their not using active ingredients that will deliver those benefits. But if you’re determined to throw your money away, you can get a sample of Cor soap for mere $12.